The Gate to Kisho

Chapter 9

Windmill Dash

"Get moving," he sniggered, tossing the last barrel onto the boat. "If we keep up this steady pace, we'll reach the island by sunrise."

The gang showed that it was no crew to be messed with. "Baah," the second man muttered. "My interests are more towards getting the head of this kiddo." He produced a beaten-up flyer with Zato's picture smacked on top.

"I dunno if I'm to believe it, but to have destroyed Rogueport's base, that sure is something. I'm surprised it wasn't someone with a greater reputation… like Akaiso," the third responded.

"Akaiso? How could a Shichibukai like him go against the government?" the first roared.

"You haven't heard? Kniex 'Storm' Akaiso supposedly runs a massive organization following previous Shichibukai Sir Crocodile's works!" the fourth spat. "But he isn't our focus. Two priorities – deliver these barrels and catch Zato Alba."

The gang pushed off from the shore to face the rough sea. Floating out of their hands, the flyer whipped into the air and lay itself upon the coastline. Printed upon its page were the digits 50,000,000.

\/\/-\/\/

"It's been some time, Tohru," Zato murmured as their boat made its way through a small fog. "Simply sailing along the shoreline will get us nowhere. We'll end up going around in circles and circles, and eventually we'll pop up in Rogueport again."

"I know what I'm doing!" she replied with a small map of the Listwind Caribbean Chain in her hands. "We're currently at the southernmost portion of this section of the sea. All we have to do is keep heading this way till we get to the nearby city, and from there we can shoot off north towards the Gate to Kisho! Unless you want to go on a voyage in a different direction, then we're headed this way."

"Nearby city?" Fuyu asked. "I'm not sure if we'd wanna go to a city yet. Clearly you have no idea about my name around here. Besides, marines will be patrolling around and hunting us down. Who knows, you may have gotten a bounty, Zato."

"Bounty?" said Tohru. "You mean… they're gonna put a value on your head… and people are gonna hunt you down?"

In the distance, the gang's boat headed in a straight line towards the coastline.

gang's boat ---- OOOO

Zato's boat ----- OOO

"Look! Something's moving there!" the first shouted, alerting Zato's crew.

"What was that?" Tohru cried, but Fuyu pushed her down before a harpoon went through her head, causing Tohru to scream out of shock.

"Zato, can you see them?" Fuyu hissed, spinning around in all directions. "Damn this fog, I'd have killed them by now if it weren't here!"

"They're behind us to our left, but I can't see anything else!" Zato responded. "But I'll take care of them quick. Watch everything here…"

In a flash, Zato disappeared off their boat. Fuyu cursed and directed it towards land, hoping he could get a better view from there.

Fuyu climbed onto the shore and gazed out. There was no luck. "Zato? Where are you?" There was no response.

/\/\-/\/\

"Quick, toss him in the warehouse!" one of the crew members hissed. "Make sure he's in that cage, I don't want him running around loose!"

Zato's eyes drooped, and consciousness faded. 'How'd they win so easily..?' he thought to himself before collapsing.

Fuyu and Tohru stood outside, both with worried looks. "To have gotten Zato they have to be good. Tohru, stay out here. I'll go in and check 'em out."

Fuyu entered into the hazy environment and noted several blurs whizzing past him from all directions. "I know you're there," he whispered. "I just don't know which one would be best to take out first. How 'bout I work my sword combo on all of you together? Nitoryu: Hurricane Split!"

The smog blocking his vision quickly cleared, allowing him to dive at the pirates rushing about. "One Split!" he shouted, bringing down the first of the members in his way. "Two Split!" he shouted once more, taking another opponent out. "Spiral Split!" This time, Fuyu spun into the air and brought his weapons down upon the remaining two members. To his surprise, the last strike came out unsuccessful, as his swords were quickly swept out of his hands by the mysterious fifth member.

"Powerful you are, Fuyu Sashimi. I'm astounded by the fact that you are actually a member of Zato's crew. However, in our battlefield, you stand no chance!"

He found himself joining Zato the next moment, though he instead had been chained up to the wall. "It's hard to believe such amateurs deal us one hundred million Beri right here. Doki's message informed us of your team combo wiping out the entire Rogueport defense, and escaping in the nick of time before being obliterated."

Tohru, who out of curiosity, had ended up in the air shafts, put her ear up close to the side and listened in carefully. "Did he just say one hundred million? Those two combined have that great a bounty on their heads?"

"What's that noise!" the gang leader shouted, and all five shot their heads upwards.

'Oh boy…' Tohru thought. 'I'll just crawl away and they won't notice me.'

She took one step and the entire roof came crashing down. The leader (mysterious fifth, AKA Raiga Dogiri) stared at the pile of rubble that had conquered two of his underlings. "I thought we only had two enemies. Don't tell me Zato has a larger crew. Could it be that he has an army?"

The dust cleared and Tohru walked out into the clear space, coughing as she exited. "Ack… geez it didn't break when I came in." She took another step and accidentally tripped this time, landing head first into the ground.

"Are you a part of Zato's crew?" Raiga asked, immediately drawing his blade. Tohru's eyes widened with fear. "Er… Zato's crew? You.. you mean that guy who held me prisoner? Please don't kill me!"

Fuyu went into a self frenzy, trying to break free from the wall. "BAKA! Stupid girl! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING?"

"That crazy swordsman even tried to kill me!" Tohru cried, dropping down to her knees and sobbing.

"I SWEAR I WILL KILL YOU ONCE THIS IS THROUGH!"

Raiga took the blade to Tohru's neck. "Stupid treacherous brats don't really deserve to live."

"That's why you should kill Zato!" Tohru sobbed. "He's the evil one!"

Raiga took his blade back and faced Zato and Fuyu. "This girl is of no importance. Whether she lies or not, you're still my targets. And since she obviously wants you dead, I shall make her wishes come true." Raiga charged, but a response was two thud noises.

"Loser, you should've delt with the free one first!" Tohru chuckled. The two remaining gang members collapsed in front of her. "Now you're all alone."

"So you want to fight?" Raiga muttered. Tohru choked. 'Crap! What have I gotten myself into?' Raiga turned around and came at her with his sword. Tohru squealed and dashed in the opposite direction, sending Fuyu into another frenzy.

"Don't just run you stupid girl!"

Raiga chased her in and out, finally stopping to catch his breath. "God, can she do anything else other than run?"

"The answer to that is yes!" Tohru responded with a grin, and she jumped to Fuyu's side. "You take care of him!" she cried, breaking the chains with her rod.

Fuyu flung a dagger at Raiga and came at him with full power. "Tohru, just wait till we set out again!"

Crack! Bust! Thud! Raiga lay on the ground, his face busted up, blood oozing out of his head. "You cheap rascals… wait till I get my hands on you next time."

Whack! Tohru beat him across the face once with her rod, sighing, "He sure was a toughie."

The next minute she was dashing again, this time from Fuyu.

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A trick… the one who helped them has turned his back? And now we learn of the hooded figure's identity. Rather shocking!

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